i.MX Config Tools v15 - malfunction with USB hub between the board and the PC

[bernhardfink]

Customer:  Not directly customer related.

Platform:  I assume all platforms covered by the Config Tool, but tested on 8M Plus EVK

When the USB port from the i.MX 8M Plus is connected to a USB hub (tested both 2.0 and 3.1) the i.MX Config Tool v15 (and most likely previous version as well) doesn't work correctly. It seems to be a USB driver issue. Here is the log:

#################### Result for: wrc ###### Run 1 ##################################################
Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.19045.3930]
(c) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

C:\Users\dep00717\Programs\IMX_Config_Tool\v15\bin>prompt test-prefix : 

test-prefix : "C:/Users/dep00717/Programs/IMX_Config_Tool/v15/bin/python3/python" "C:/Users/dep00717/Programs/IMX_Config_Tool/v15/bin/python3/memtool/memtool_entry.py" -t "runtest" -d "C:/ProgramData/NXP/mcu_data_v15/processors/MIMX8ML8xxxLZ/ksdk2_0/mem_validation/ddrc" -p "C:/Users/dep00717/AppData/Local/Temp/3/mem_validation/phy_training_operational_tests_0_0_.log" -l INFO "C:/Users/dep00717/AppData/Local/Temp/3/mem_validation/connect.json" "C:/Users/dep00717/AppData/Local/Temp/3/mem_validation/test.json" "C:/Users/dep00717/AppData/Local/Temp/3/mem_validation/phy.json" "C:/Users/dep00717/AppData/Local/Temp/3/mem_validation/ddrc_registers.json" "C:/Users/dep00717/AppData/Local/Temp/3/mem_validation/ddrc_config.json" "C:/Users/dep00717/AppData/Local/Temp/3/mem_validation/ddrc_config_in.json"
INFO     memtool.utils.helper  *****C:/Users/dep00717/AppData/Local/Temp/3/mem_validation/connect.json
INFO     memtool.utils.helper  *****C:/Users/dep00717/AppData/Local/Temp/3/mem_validation/test.json
INFO     memtool.utils.helper  *****C:/Users/dep00717/AppData/Local/Temp/3/mem_validation/phy.json
INFO     memtool.utils.helper  *****C:/Users/dep00717/AppData/Local/Temp/3/mem_validation/ddrc_registers.json
INFO     memtool.utils.helper  *****C:/Users/dep00717/AppData/Local/Temp/3/mem_validation/ddrc_config.json
INFO     memtool.utils.helper  *****C:/Users/dep00717/AppData/Local/Temp/3/mem_validation/ddrc_config_in.json
INFO     memtool.processor.imx8m.imx8_processor Xls mapping load time 0.022123
INFO     memtool.processor.base_processor Config time 0.031576
INFO     memtool.processor.base_processor DS file time 0.617054
INFO     memtool.phyinit.phy_init Run phyinit for 2020.06\lpddr4
INFO     memtool.comm.serial_channel Using serial: COM69
ERROR    memtool.comm.sdps_comm Invalid USB HID device selection 0 from list [] !
ERROR    memtool.comm.sdps_comm Invalid USB HID device selection 0 from list [] !
ERROR    memtool.common.base_test Load application ended with exception: 'NoneType' object has no attribute 'open'
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "C:\Users\dep00717\Programs\IMX_Config_Tool\v15\bin\python3\memtool\common\base_test.py", line 318, in load_dcd_and_app
    self.load_app(target_ready)
  File "C:\Users\dep00717\Programs\IMX_Config_Tool\v15\bin\python3\memtool\common\base_test.py", line 302, in load_app
    self.processor.load_app(self.config_data)
  File "C:\Users\dep00717\Programs\IMX_Config_Tool\v15\bin\python3\memtool\processor\sdps_processor.py", line 52, in load_app
    self.sdps.open()
  File "C:\Users\dep00717\Programs\IMX_Config_Tool\v15\bin\python3\memtool\comm\sdps_comm.py", line 112, in open
    self.sdps.open()
AttributeError: 'NoneType' object has no attribute 'open'

Without hub everything works fine.

Regards,
Bernhard.

[JorgeCas]

Hello, I hope you are doing well.

The user guide does not detail in depth if it connect a USB HUB is supported or not but, if we compare it with other tools such as MSCALE DDR tool or UUU. It is recommended that USB cable must be connected directly to the Host PC USB port and not through a USB HUB.

Best regards.

[bernhardfink]

We should really sort this out. If a USB hub in this connection disables the functionality of the DDR Test Tool, then customers who put a USB hub chip on their end product can't test their product design, or at least only with a higher effort (restart the tool).

For an EVK + Hub + PC setup I can easily give the recommendation to leave the USB hub out, but for an end product, where the hub chip is soldered on the board, this option does not exist.

I will address this somehow to the group doing these tools.

Regards,
Bernhard.